Lake City mayor will seek GOP nod for state House seat

Lake City Mayor Jon Milligan on Tuesday became the third Republican to announce his intention to run for the state House seat held by Jonesboro Republican Dan Sullivan.

Sullivan plans to challenge fellow Republican Sen. John Cooper of Jonesboro in the March 3 primary.

Milligan, 50, served on the City Council of Lake City from 2007-11 and as mayor since 2011. He owns a body shop.

He said in a news release that he’s running for the House District 53 seat because the Legislature needs strong conservative leadership and because he wants to continue to cut the state’s individual income tax. He also said he will defend the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution vigorously.

Milligan said in an interview that he is sure Arkansas Works, the state’s Medicaid expansion program that provides health insurance for about 240,000 low-income people, can be improved, but he doesn’t know what the other options are, so “I’m all ears.”

Milligan said he is “100% Pro Life.” When a reporter asked whether abortion should be allowed to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest, Milligan said it was the first time he has been asked that question. He said he will have to think about it.

Jonesboro City Council member Bobby Long and Dr. Cole Peck of Jonesboro earlier announced their intention to run as Republicans for the House District 53 seat. In May 2018, Peck lost a challenge to Sullivan, who has represented the district since 2015. House District 53 includes part of Jonesboro and eastern Craighead County.